HEY BASTARDS.

Now THIS is how you do a remake. Take the idea of the original film and remake it into something unique. I just read this report on Variety and this instantly became one of my most anticipated films while simultaneously making me want to go on a Hideo Gosha marathon. Variety is reporting that Warner Japan is in the early stages of developing a remake of Clint Eastwood’s 1992 Academy Award Winning western UNFORGIVEN. Ken Watanabe (THE LAST SAMURAI) has been tapped to star in the film which will be directed by Lee Sang-il (VILLAIN). According to Variety “the story will be set in 1880, with the location changed to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, a time when Japanese settlers were displacing the native Ainu people. Watanabe plays a samurai with a fearsome reputation as a swordsman who is living in retirement with his Ainu wife when poverty and a large bounty tempt him into action again.”

Watanabe is 52 and perfect for this role. He has incredible depth as an actor and has publicly battled illness which could bring an interesting dynamic to the part. Why bring up his age? It is vital to his character. This is a story about redemption for past sins, it requires an understanding of how temporary everything is which is why I am not sure that a young director like Sang-il is the right choice for this film. I could be wrong though. Regardless, I can’t wait to learn more about this project. The film is titled YURUSAREZARU MONO (Japanese for unforgiven) and is tentatively scheduled for a fall 2013 release in Japan.